Resilient clips for mounting panels



Oct. 26, 1965 P. M. REED RESILIENT CLIPS FOR MOUNTING PANELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1962 INVENTOR Parse M. REED Oct. 26, 1965 P. M. REED RESILIENT CLIPS FOR MOUNTING PANELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1962 a L H 05 N T 2 MR 0 W 1M 4 m\ E m United States Patent i 3,213,582 RESILHENT CLIPS FOR MOUNTING PANELS Peter M. Reed, 3088 Killybrooke Lane, Costa Mesa, Calif. Filed May 8, 1962, Ser. No. 193,083 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-358) This invention relates generally to resilient clips for mounting panels to longitudinally extending supports. More particularly, the invention relates to resilient wire clips including starter and field clips adapted to be assembled into interlocking relation to hang lath panels and the like from overhead channel members in furred or suspended ceiling construction, providing a ceiling surface for the reception of plaster or a ceiling base for reception of adhesively applied acoustical tile.

Various ceiling systems employing resilient wire hangers for hanging lath panels from metal ceiling grillage have been devised, floating the lath away from the grillage or framing to reduce round transmission, in which wire hangers intertwine with each other to mount the lath. In most ceiling installations, the ceiling grillage includes widely spaced carrying channels and narrowly spaced cross-furring which are hung from the carrying channels by galvanized hanger wire. Frequently, a joint between adjoining lath panels mounted to the furring comes at or near such a hanger wire and causes the bottom surfaces of the panels to be unevenly spaced from the top of the furring by an amount equal to the thickness of the hanger wire. Such discrepancies do not affect the finished plastered ceiling surface appreciably but do cause considerable difliculty in assembling the field clips to the panels, causing the applicator to lose valuable time and frequently to break the field clip.

In addition, it has not been possible in the existing sys' tems to hang lath panels that closely approach or engage side walls in floating ceilings having all channels spaced from walls.

It is, therefore, a principal object of my invention to disclose and provide a resilient clip adapted for mounting panels to longitudinally extending supports in a system of successively interlocking clips, portion thereof crossing joints between the panels, where the clips may be readily assembled to the panels and each other even where the panels are not uniformly spaced below the supports from which the clips hang.

It is another object of the invention to disclose and provide a resilient clip as in the preceding object, including means for forming a double lock across a joint between adjacent panels, such means also serving to position a succeedingly assembled panel while a second clip is being interlockingly assembled to the panels and the first clip.

It is another object of the invention to disclose and provide a resilient wire clip having a longitudinally extending body portion to support a panel, a clip portion at one end of said body adapted to fasten over an overhead channel support and interlock means formed in the body to receive and retain a free end of a second clip to interlock the two clips, wherein the operation of the interlock means on the first clip is not affected by an upward pull on its clip portion or when a greater n normal spacing between the support and panel occurs.

It is a further object of the invention to disclose and provide a clip wherein the body portion has a horizontal bias when the clip portion is fastened to an overhead channel support to urge a free end thereof into engagement with interlock means on a preceding clip where the clips are being assembled to adjacent panels in succession.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a clip for starting a succession of clips of the character described wherein the outer edge of the leading panel 3,213,582 Patented Oct. 26, 1965 supported by such clips may be spaced outwardly of the longitudinal extent of the overhead support.

It is a still further object of the invention to disclose and provide an easily interlocking system or gridwork of starter and field clips arranged in rows beneath panel members, a starter clip beginning each row and a plurality of field clips successively interlocking with said starter clip and each other wherein the interlock means on the clips are formed in the body portion of each clip, spaced thereon from the overhead clip portion with a panel abutment portion of the body positioned between the interlock means and the clip portion.

Generally stated, the invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of starter clips and field clips arranged in rows beneath panel members with a starter clip beginning each row and a plurality of field clips successively interlocking with the starter clip and with each other. The clips are hung from overhead channels or furring and are arranged in generally spaced parallel row to support a plurality of panels. Each of the starter clips comprises, in general, a body portion having spaced, generally parallel, top and bottom legs adapted to receive a panel therebetween with an interconnecting side leg against which the received panel abuts. Clip means are provided on the starter clip body, disposed above the body to clip over an overhead channel support. It is preferred that the clip means join the body portion at a free end of the top leg, opposite the side leg abutted by the panel, so that the clip portion may be hung upon an outer edge or end of an overhead support with the panel extending outwardly of such end of the support. Interlock means are formed preferably in the lower leg of the body portion and are adapted to receive and retain a free end of the field clip.

In general, each of the field clips includes a resilient bowed body which is bowed upwardly in a generally vertical plane to abut the lower surface of the panel held between the clip body and the overhead channel support. A clip portion is provided at one end of the bowed body including a top element adapted to overly an overhead channel support and resilient convergent side elements depending from the top element adapted to resiliently engage the sides of the support. The clip portion is disposed above the body portion and is joined thereto at one of the side elements. The end of the body portion opposite the end upon which the clip portion is mounted may be termed a free end since it does not clip upon the overhead channel members but is adapted to be swung into engagement with the interlock means formed on the starter clip. As subsequent clips are assembled, the free ends are successively interlocked with interlock means on the field clips. Such interlock means, provided on each field clip, may be formed in the body portion itself. According to the invention, the interlock means is spaced from the clip portion so that movement of the clip portion relative to the panel will not affect the operation of the interlock means.

It is further contemplated, that the top element and the side element of the clip portion in the field clip lie generally in a vertical plane which is inclined to the vertical plane in which the bowed body lies. By so providing the clip portion at other than a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the body, the body is provided with a bias in a horizontal plane when the clip portion is assembled to a channel support. This bias of the body portion is adapted to urge the free end of the field clip into cooperating engagement with the interlock means on a preceding starter clip or field clip.

It is still further contemplated within the invention, that a double lock be affected across the joints between adjacent panels supported by a row of clips including a starter clip and a plurality of field clips. A first lock across such joints is affected by interlocking the free end of a succeeding field clip with the interlock means on the preceding starter clip or field clip. A second lock may be affected by providing a relatively long upwardly biased, finger portion on the clip portion of the starter clip or field clip. It is preferred that this finger portion be an extension of one side element of the clip portion, other than the side element joining the body of such clip, wherein the finger extends outwardly from the clip portion, away from the body portion to engage the adjacent panel. The upward bias of the finger allows it to not only act as positioning means for the reception of a panel being assembled to the ceiling system, but allows it to exert an upward supporting force against the panel after the panel has been assembled into the ceiling system and the field clip associated therewith has been assembled to the overhead channel support and interlocked with the interlock means on the clip.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the resilient clips, including starter clips and field clips, according to the invention. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a ceiling or wall construction showing the lath panels and an exemplary embodiment of the resilient clips for mounting panels, according to the invention, assembled in interlocking engagement to the panels and supports prior to the application of plaster or acoustical boards to the lath panels;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ceiling system of FIG. 1 taken therein along the plane II-II;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a portion of the resilient clips and overhead support channel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in FIG. 3 along the plane IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a starter clip, according to the invention, employed in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the clip portion of the field clip according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the clip portion of FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a ceiling or wall construction showing the lath panels and an alternative exemplary embodiment of resilient wire clips, according to the invention, assembled in interlocking engagement to the panels and supports prior to the application of plaster or acoustical boards to the lath panels;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the ceiling system of FIG. 8 taken therein along the plane VIII-VIII;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 9 taken therein along the plane IXIX;

FIG. 11 is a perspective detail view of the field clips of FIGS. 8 through 10; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the starter clip of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 11.

An exemplary embodiment of the resilient clip assembly employed in mounting panels according to the invention, is shown in FIGS. 1 through 7. Lath panels 10 are mounted upon a ceiling grillage or frame, including the widely spaced carrying channels 11 and the cross-channels or furring 12, by an assembly of a starter clip, indicated generally at 15, and a plurality of field clips, indicated generally at 26. As best seen in FIG. 2, the cross-channels or furring members 12 are suspended from the carrying channels 11 by tie wires or hanger wires 13. The panel 10, therefore, abuts against the wire 13 passsingbetween the cross-channel 12 and the panel 10 causing it to be offset somewhat from the adjacent panel 10'. According to the invention, such uneveness of the adjacent panels 10 and 10 will not affect the ease of assembly of the field clips to the panels. In assemblying the panels 10 to the ceiling frame or grillage, a starter clip, indicated generally at 15 and shown in perspective in FIG. 5, is initially hung upon a cross-channel or furring 12, as best seen in FIG. 2. Starter clip 15 includes a resilient wire body portion 16 having a top leg 17, a bottom leg 18 and an interconnecting side leg 19. The top and bottom legs, 17 and 18 respectively, are convergent from the interconnecting leg 19 and are adapted to snugly receive a panel 11 therebetween. Clip means 20, including spaced convergent side legs 21 and 22 and a top leg 23, are provided on the body 16, joining body 16 at an end of the top leg 17 opposite the interconnecting side leg 19. The clip means 20 are disposed above the body portion 16 to extend upwardly and overlie a cross-channel or furring 12 and position the body portion 16 below the channel in position to receive the first panel 10. The side legs 21 and 22 and top leg 23 of clip means 20 may be provided so as to lie generally in a vertical plane inclined to the generally vertical plane of the body portion 16. Such inclination of the clip means 20 to the body portion 16 is provided to give a bias to the body portion in a generally horizontal plane when clip means 20- is fastened over a cross-channel 12.

Interlock means 24, preferably formed in the lower leg 18, are provided on the body portion 16. Such interlock means are provided on the starter clip 15to receive and engage a free end of the field clip 26 as subsequently described. The horizontal bias imparted to the body portion 16 by the inclination thereto of the clip means 20 urges the interlock means 24 toward an assembled field clip. As best seen in FIG. 5, interlock means 24 may be provided in the leg 18 by an offset bend in the leg 18. Such offset or bend provides an inner surface spaced from the panel 111 which is received between the legs 17 and 18 of the body portion 16. A locking slot may thereby be effected. In addition, the starter clip may be provided with an extension 25 adapted to direct the panel 10 into the space adapted for its reception formed by the legs 17, 18 and 19 and abut the bottom of the panel after assembly to maintain the locking slot formed by means 24 in an open, operable relation to the panel.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that an initial panel 10 may be suspended from a cross-channel 12 Where an outer edge of panel 10 closely approaches a side wall 14 though the support channel 12 is considerably short of wall 14. After the panel 11) has been inserted into the starter clip body portion 16 at the beginning of a row of clips, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a field clip 26 may be clipped onto the overhead support channel 12, swung up against the lower surface of the panel 16 and interlocked with the interlock means 24 of the starter clip 15.

Field clips, indicated generally at 26, preferably include a resilient body 27 which is bowed upwardly in a generally vertical plane to cause the resilient body to press upwardly against the panel 10 to which it is assembled in the interlocking assembly of resilient clips, according to the invention, as when the field clip is interlocked with the prior interlock means 24 and is fastened over the cross-channel 12. A clip portion 28 is provided at one end of the bowed body 26 including a top element 29 and a pair of spaced side elements 30 and 31, as best seen in FIG. 4. Top element 29 is adapted to overly the channel 12. Side elements 31 and 31 are resilient and convergent elements depending from the top element so as to be adapted to resiliently engage sides of the channel support 12. Clip portion 20 is disposed above the body portion and is joined thereto to one of the side elements 30. According to the invention, top element 29 and the side element 30 lie generally in a vertical plane which is inclined to the vertical plane in which the bowed body lies, as shown in FIG. 6. The plane of top element 29 and side element 30 may also be considered to be inclined to the longitudinal axis of body 27. By so pro! viding clip portion 28 at other than a right angle to the longitudinal axis of body 27, body 27 is provided with a bias in a horizontal plane when clip portion 28 is assembled to the channel support 12. This bias of body portion 27 urges a free end 32 of the field clip 26 into cooperating engagement with the interlock means 24 on the starter clip 15. Free end 32, in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6, is provided in the form of a hook portion 33 adapted to be swung into the locking slot formed between interlock means 24 on starter clip 15 and the panel 10. Hook portion 33 is provided with an olfset portion 34 to catch in the interlock slot. Such interlock between the hook 33 and interlock means 24 is facilitated by the relative biases given to the respective body portions of the starter clip and field clip by the inclination of the clip means or portion of each clip to its body portion.

Interlock means are provided in the body portion 27 of each field clip, spaced from but adjacent to the clip portion, such as interlock means 35 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6. Such means may comprise an offset section or bend in the body portion, as best shown in FIG. 3, providing an inner surface of the interlock means 35 which is spaced from the panel 10, providing a locking slot to receive the hook portion 33 on the free end 32 of an associated field clip. As particularly contemplated by the invention, such interlock means 35 are spaced from the clip portion 28. Such spacing of the interlock means 35 from clip portion 28 may be affected by interposing panel abutment means. Such panel abutment means may comprise a panel abutment portion 36 preferably formed integrally with body portion 27 and adapted to lie along and abut the panel 10. An upward pull on the adjacent clip portion 28 will not affect the size of the opening of the locking slot provided between the interlock means 35 and panel due to the presence of such panel abutment means. Thus, the free end of a succeeding field clip 26' may always be readily inserted into the locking slot between the panel 10 and interlock means 35 of a preceeding field clip 26, even though the spacing between the bottom surface of panel 10 and the top surface of channel 12 varies. Any additional pressure exerted on the clip means 28 is absorbed by the panel abutment means 36 leaving the interlock means 35 unaffected thereby.

As is further contemplated by the invention, a double lock may be affected across the joint between adjacent panels 10 and 10' by the provision of a relatively long, upwardly biased finger portion 37 extending from the clip portion 28. It is preferred that finger portion 37 be an extension of side element 31 of the clip portion rather than side element 30 so that it may be given an upward bias by bending side 31 out of the plane of side leg 30 and top element 29. Such upward bias of finger 37 causes it to press upwardly against the succeeding adjacent panel 10 after assembly as well as to facilitate the initial positioning of panel 10' to the ceiling frame.

An alternative exemplary embodiment of resilient wire clips, according to the invention, employed in an assembly of interlocking starter and field clips to support lath panels and the like, is shown in FIGS. 8 through 12. In this embodiment, starter clip 115 includes a resilient wire body portion 116 having a top leg 117, a bottom leg 118 and an interconnecting side leg 119, as shown in perspective in FIG. 12. The top and bottom legs 117 and 118, respectively, are convergent from the interconnecting leg 119 and are adapted to snugly receiver a panel 110 therebetween. Clip means 120, including spaced covergent side legs 121 and 122 and a top leg 123 are provided on the body 116 to extend upwardly and overlie a cross-channel of furring 112 and position the body portion 116 below the channel in position to receive the first panel 110. The side legs 121 and 122 and top leg 123 of clip means 120 may be provided so as to lie generally in a vertical plane inclined to the generally vertical plane of the body portion 116, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 7.

Interlock means are provided on the body portion 116 to receive and retain a free end of a field clip 126 assembled thereto as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Such means,

in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 12 and as best shown in FIG. 12, may comprise a generally horizontal laterally extending interlock leg 124. Interlock leg 124 is preferably an extension of the lower leg 118, extends laterally thereof generally at right angles in a generally horizontal direction and includes a central concave portion adapted to provide a space or interlock slot between the leg 124 and a panel towhich it is assembled. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the generally straight free end 132 of the field clip 126 is received and retained between this concave surface in the interlock leg 124 and the panel 110.

Field clip, indicated generally at 126, of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 12, preferably includes a resilient body 127 which is bowed upwardly in a generally vertical plane, as in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7, to cause the body portion to press upwardly against the panel 110 when the clip is assembled into the interlocking assembly of resilient clips according to the invention. A clip portion 128 is provided at one end of the bowed body 126 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7. Clip portion 128 includes a top element 129 and a pair of spaced side elements 130 and 131, as best seen in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. Top element 129 is adapted to overlie the channel 112 and side elements 130 and 131 are resilient convergent elements depending from top element 129 to resiliently engage sides of a support, such as channel 112. Clip portion 128 is disposed above the body portion and is joined thereto to one of the side elements 130. According to the invention, top element 129 and side element 130 lie generally in a vertical plane which is inclined to the vertical plane in which the bowed body lies. The plane of top element 129 annd side element 130 may also therefore be considered to be inclined to a longitudinal axis of body 127. Side leg 131 is bent to the side legs 130 and 129 to provide an upward bias to the finger portion 137,

Interlock means in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 12, are provided in the form of a lateral extension or locking leg portion 135, as best seen in FIGS. 10 and 11. Lateral extension or interlock leg portion extends laterally and generally horizontally from the body portion, preferably being formed integrally therewith, and includes an upwardly concave surface adapted to form a space or interlocking slot between the lateral extension 135 and the panel 110. The interlock slot formed by lateral extension 135 is adapted to receive the generally straight free end 132 of the resilient body portion 127. As particularly contemplated 'by the invention, the interlock means are spaced from the clip portion 128 to prevent movement of the clip portion 128 from affecting the size of the opening of the locking slot formed by lateral extension 135. Such spacing of the interlock means from clip portion 128 may be effected by interposing panel abutment means therebetween as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7. Panel abutment means, in the preferred embodiments, is provided by an integrally formed panel abutment portion 136 of the body 127. Panel abutment portion 136 is adapted to lie along and abut the panel 110 between the interlock means 135 and clip portion 128.

It may be seen from the foregoing detailed descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the resilient clips and the assembly thereof, according to the invention, that the field clips may always be readily inserted into the interlocking slot of a prior clip even through the spacing be tween the bottom surface of a panel and the top surface of the overhead support varies among the panels. This allows rapid, trouble-free assembly of the clips to the panels without the operator or applicator having to force a free end or portion of a field clip into the interlock means on the prior starter or field clip. In add-ition, the horizontal bias given the body ortion of the field clip by the inclination thereto of the clip portion facilitates the maintenance of a lock between the free end, the body portion and interlock means on a preced ing clip. A double lock is effected across joints between adjacent panels by the crossing thereof of the free ends of body portions of the field clips to engage the interlock means on prior clips and the oppositely directed joint crossing finger portions extending from the clip portions of each of the field clips. The outer edges of the panels 119 may be adjacent to or engaging the walls 114 or 14 even though the supports 12 or 112 are short of the side walls as in many suspended ceiling installations. The absence of any appreciable gap between the lath panels (adapted to receive acoustical board or plaster) and the side walls is of considerable value in providing a finished pleasing appearance to the ceiling. It is also contemplated that the panels could be mounted as wall panels to vertically extending supports by the assembly of resilient wire clips, according to the invention, to form a side wall construction rather than a ceiling construction. I

It should be remembered that while only two exemplary embodiments of the resilient clips and the assembly thereof for mounting panels to longitudinally extending supports have been described, other embodiments, modifications, and refinements thereof may comewithin the scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a resilient clip for use in retaining lath panels against ceiling supports, said clip including a resilient body portion bowed to press against a panel with which it is associated and a clip portion at one end of said body portion to engage said ceiling supports, the provision of: interlock means including an oiTset section on said body portion adjacent said one end, said otfset section forming with the associated panel an opening for receiving and interlocking a free end of another resilient clip associated with an adjacent panel, said otfset section being spaced on said body portion away from said clip portion.

2. In the resilient clip of claim 1, the provision of: a panel abutment means on said body portion between said clip portion and said offset section for abutting said panel between said clip portion and said interlock means. A

3. A resilient field clip adapted to mount lath panels and the like to channel supports, comprising: a resilient longitudinally extending body; clip means at one end of said body for engaging a channel support to support a lath panel between said body and channel support; interlock means on said body adjacent said one end and providing with an associated panel an interlock opening for receiving and interlocking the corresponding other end of a corresponding succeeding resilient clip associated with an adjacent panel, said interlock means being spaced on said body away from said clip means; and panel abutment means between said clip means and said interlock means on said body for abutting said panel between said interlock means and said clip means.

4. A field clip as in claim 3 wherein: said body is provided with a hook portion at its other end.

5. A field clip as in claim 3 wherein said interlock means adjacent said one end comprises a lateral extension of said body providing a generally concave face to oppose and be spaced from an associated panel.

6. An interlocking assembly of resilient clips for suspending panel members from overhead channel supports including a plurality of starter clips and field clips arranged in rows beneath panel members with a starter clip beginning each row and a plurality of field clips successively interlocking with said starter clip and each other, each of said starter clips comprising:

a body portion having spaced generally parallel top and bottom legs adapted to receive a panel therebetween and an interconnecting side leg adapted to be abutted by an outer edge of said panel;

clip means mounted on said body adapted to clip over an overhead channel support, said clip means joining said body portion at an end of said top leg opposite said side leg to engage said support above and inwardly of said outer edge of said panel; and

interlock means formed in said lower leg of said body portion adapted to receive and retain an end portion of a field clip; each of said field clips comprising:

a resilient bowed body being bowed upwardly in a generally vertical plane;

a clip portion at one end of said bowed body including a top element adapted to overlie an overhead channel support and resilient convergent side elements depending from said top element adapted to resiliently engage sides of said support, one side element joining said clip portion with said body portion;

a free end on said bowed body opposite said one end adapted to cooperate with said interlock means formed on said starter clip; and

interlock means on said bowed body spaced from said clip portion, said interlock means being adapted to receive and retain a free end of a succeeding field clip in the assembly;

said top element and said one side element of said clip portion lying generally in a vertical plane inclined to said vertical plane of said bowed body whereby said bowed body, when said clip portion is assembled to a channel support, is biased to urge said free end into cooperating engagement with said interlock means formed in said starter clip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,860,399 5/32 Venzie 50-314 1,955,247 4/ 34 Makowski 503 14 2,945,329 7/60 Schneller 50--314 RICHARD W. COOKE, 111., Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner. 

1. IN A RESILIENT CLIP FOR USE IN RETAINING LATH PANELS AGAINST CEILING SUPPORTS, SAID CLIP INCLUDING A RESILIENT BODY PORTION BOWED TO PRESS AGAINST A PANEL WITH WHICH IT IS ASSOCIATED AND A CLIP PORTION AT ONE END OF SAID BODY PORTION TO ENGAGE SAID CEILING SUPPORTS, THE PROVISION OF: INTERLOCK MEANS INCLUDING AN OFFSET SECTION ON SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT SAID ONE END, SAID OFFSET SECTION FORMING WITH THE ASSOCIATED PANEL ON OPENING FOR RECEIVING AND INTERLOCKING A FREE END OF ANOTHER RESILIENT CLIP ASSOCIATED WITH AN ADJACENT PANEL, SAID OFFSET SECTION BEING SPACED ON SAID BODY PORTION AWAY FROM SAID CLIP PORTION. 